No Markey-Gardner rematch in 2012

Former Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey says she won’t be running for her old House seat in 2012.

“I’m not running,” she told POLITICO in the lobby of the JW Marriott, where this weekend’s National Governors Association winter conference is being held. “I’m not running in 2012.”

Markey, who is attending the conference as a guest, was earlier this month named assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs in the Department of Homeland Security.

Markey lost the conservative-oriented 4th District seat she held last year to now-GOP Rep. Cory Gardner.

Democratic leaders — led by Democratic Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Israel — have mounted a vigorous push to recruit former members to run for the seats they lost. Markey wouldn’t say whether the DCCC has reached out to her about running.